Sophie Pickering
Every professional displayed on Counselling Directory has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
What is counselling and how can it help me?
There are many reasons why people seek counselling and your reasons will be unique. Perhaps you have experienced a distressing event or perhaps you feel you cannot manage your emotions or feel your life is out of control. Counselling offers the opportunity to find clarity, acceptance and experience change and transformation. Counselling offers a trusting relationship that supports you to explore fears and bring them into awareness safely and find clarity about issues that may be causing confusion and pain.
What happens in a counselling session?
I provide a confidential place for you to explore feelings and issues at your own pace. Having a supportive place to talk about your life with someone objective and professional can help to bring clarity and understanding. I can work with you to gently increase your understanding and acceptance of yourself. Understanding and acceptance of yourself and your experiences can begin a process of change and transformation in your life if that is something that is desired.
Counselling sessions can be both reassuring and challenging. I can offer comfort and support whilst also helping you to face difficult feelings and realities. My experience informs me that a counselling relationship which is both supportive and challenging creates an environment where real change and transformation can take place.
Areas of interest
I have many years of experience, working with a wide range of clients, of different ages and backgrounds for short and long-term counselling. I am experienced working with individuals from LGBTQ+ and BAME communities and welcome new enquiries from these groups.
I have many years of experience of working at depth with people who seek a greater understanding of their feelings, relationships and way of being in the world. I am also experienced in supporting people to find freedom from symptoms related to trauma.
Training, qualifications & experience
Training
I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor and trained in relational, Psychodynamic counselling. This approach puts the therapeutic relationship at the centre of our work together and the relationship itself creates a space to understand your experience of the world. Forming a supportive therapeutic relationship is essential for sessions to be effective. A Psychodynamic approach takes a specific interest in our early babyhood and childhood experiences as well as unconscious processes to understand any feelings or difficulties experienced in the present.
I have completed further studies in mindfulness and bodywork (yoga, meditation and breathing techniques) and this is reflected in my counselling approach, especially when working with bodily responses to trauma. I have many years’ experience working with addictions and trauma relating to abuse. I have also completed further training to work with young people and couples.
Qualifications
- Counselling foundation at Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling, Bath
- Diploma in Counselling at the University of West of England, Bristol
- Diploma in Relational Mindfulness at the Karuna Institute, Devon
- Certificate in Relational Couples Therapy, Stroud
What kind of things do people talk about in counselling?
Here is a list of areas I regularly work with in my private practice; I have worked with many other issues in addition to this list and I am open to working with any issue or reason you may have for seeking counselling.
- Low self-esteem and confidence
- Communication and relationship difficulties
- Childhood trauma
- Issues relating to identity
- Stress
- Relationship problems
- Anxiety and panic
- Low mood, depression and suicidal feelings
- Sexual abuse and trauma
- Anger
- Sexuality and sex
- Motherhood
- Addictions, specifically drug addiction
- Mental health diagnosis and treatment
- Issues relating to body image and eating
- Problems and changes at work
- Chronic health conditions
- Spirituality
My work with couples
There are many reasons why couples may seek therapy to support their relationship. It could be that you are facing a crisis of some kind, starting out on a new journey together, facing changes or challenges or planning ahead for a change you envisage in the future. Couples therapy can be an incredibly healing place to explore your own patterns in relationships as well as exploring the unique connection created between you. Couples sessions can be used to understand each other more deeply and make changes to improve communication and connection. . If you would like to arrange an initial session to find out more then please get in touch.
My work with young people
In my private practice, I offer counselling sessions for young people aged 18 and over. Counselling sessions for young people provide a chance to explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours which are causing distress and learn how to make changes to improve wellbeing. I have varied experiences of working with many issues that can affect life during adolescence. If you wish to discuss your own or your child's situation please get in touch.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred).
Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision.
Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training.
All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
I charge £60 for individuals and £85 for couples sessions.
Sessions last for 50 minutes.
How many sessions will I need?
I suggest we meet for a few sessions initially to talk through your needs and to make a plan together.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | |||||||
| Afternoon | |||||||
| Evening | |||||||
| Night |
I currently have daytime appointments available on Tuesdays in central Bristol.
